If you ask a drug dealer why he’s dealing crack, he’ll tell you that it beats working at Micky D’s. It’s as if anything beats working at McDonald’s, or any other fast food restaurant for that matter.

If you’re a teenager, working in fast food is sort of a right of passage in this country, but if you’re an adult, it doesn’t come close to paying the bills, and that’s why hundreds of fast food workers are walking off the job today in New York City.

Workers at McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC, Taco Bell, and Domino’s Pizza locations have been organizing to demand a living wage, and chose today to begin their strike.

The workers are demanding a wage of $15/hr, a raise from their current minimum wage salaries, and recognition of their union, the Fast Food Workers Committee.

This strike is unique because it is the first multi-franchise union strike. Workers who are striking say that earning $7.30 per hour doesn’t afford them enough to buy food, pay rent, and purchase metro bus and train cards.

What is worse is that McJobs make up a large number of the jobs that have increased since the recession, meaning that good jobs are being replaced by these low wage fast food jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that seven out of 10 growth occupations over the next decade will come from low-wage fields.

Fast food has done well with its cheap food throughout the recession, but like many American companies, they refuse to share any of that wealth with their workers.

I believe this is a start to correcting low wages. But the fight must be taken to the government as well to get the federal minimum wage increased. WA state has a minimum wage that's higher than the federal and most fast food restaurants starting pay is $10/hr. These large corporations operate at the edge of the law and if workers don't stand together, the richest of the rich will continue to get richer.

Find us on Facebook

About Us

Your Black World is the top black news site in America.
Your Black World was created to allow a diverse set of black voices to reveal themselves. There is no shame in being black, whether you are into reading the hottest news, receiving the latest commentary from the top black writers, or seeking sports, finance, advice, politics or celebrity gossip.
Our motto is simple: There is no one way to be black.
From Flava Flav to Oprah Winfrey - All Black News is here.